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Your sickness makes me sick! - Pathogen-relevant Face Database
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Description: The behavioral immune system (BIS) is one of the broadly examined subjects in the evolutionary field. It aims to detect potentially threatening sources of infection by triggering emotional (disgust) and behavioral (avoidance) reactions. Visible inflammation cues or coming from a different region (inhabited by new parasites) can result in the increased social distance. As BIS can significantly influence social functioning and increase prejudice against outgroup members, its operation and regulation raise some important research questions. For the purpose of future studies, we present a new face database consisting of 96 photographs: 4 ethnicities (Black, Asian, White & Latino) x 2 genders (males & females) x 6 identities (for each condition) with or without manipulation of visible inflammation cues. In the pilot study (N = 189; after exclusion due to missing data the final sample consisted of N = 157), participants rated each photograph on likeability, attractiveness, and health. Additionally, we asked to what extent the person in the photo evokes emotions of anger, disgust, compassion, and fear. All pictures presenting fictional identities were created by AI systems. References: Faulkner, J., Schaller, M., Park, J. H., & Duncan, L. A. (2004). Evolved Disease-Avoidance Mechanisms and Contemporary Xenophobic Attitudes. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations: GPIR, 7(4), 333–353. Iwasa, K., Yamada, Y., & Tanaka, T. (2021). Editorial: Behavioral Immune System: Its Psychological Bases and Functions. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 659975. van Leeuwen, F., & Petersen, M. B. (2017). The behavioral immune system is designed to avoid infected individuals, not outgroups. Evolution and Human Behavior, 39(2).
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